Kinesio taping - what does the research say???

Kinesio taping has gained widespread recognition due to its use by high profile athletes, but does the research back up the anecdotal reports of effectiveness???

Physiother Theory Pract. 2012 Oct 22.

The clinical effects of Kinesio(®) Tex taping: A systematic review.

Morris D, Jones D, Ryan H, Ryan CG.

Source

Kinesio(®) Tex tape (KTT) is used in a variety of clinical settings. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of KTT from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in the management of clinical conditions. A systematic literature search of CINAHL; MEDLINE; OVID; AMED; SCIENCE DIRECT; PEDRO; www.internurse.com; SPORT DISCUS; BRITISH NURSING INDEX; www.kinesiotaping.co.uk; www.kinesiotaping.com; COCHRANE CENTRAL REGISTER OF CLINICAL TRIALS; and PROQUEST was performed up to April 2012. The risk of bias and quality of evidence grading was performed using the Cochrane collaboration methodology. Eight RCTs met the full inclusion/exclusion criteria. Six of these included patients with musculoskeletal conditions; one included patients with breast-cancer-related lymphedema; and one included stroke patients with muscle spasticity. Six studies included a sham or usual care tape/bandage group. There was limited to moderate evidence that KTT is no more clinically effective than sham or usual care tape/bandage. There was limited evidence from one moderate quality RCT that KTT in conjunction with physiotherapy was clinically beneficial for plantar fasciitis related pain in the short term; however, there are serious questions around the internal validity of this RCT. There currently exists insufficient evidence to support the use of KTT over other modalities in clinical practice.

Sports Med. 2012 Feb 1;42(2):153-64.

Kinesio taping in treatment and prevention of sports injuries: a meta-analysis of the evidence for its effectiveness.

Williams S, Whatman C, Hume PA, Sheerin K.

Source

Kinesio tape (KT) is an elastic therapeutic tape used for treating sports injuries and a variety of other disorders. Chiropractor, Dr Kenso Kase, developed KT taping techniques in the 1970s. It is claimed that KT supports injured muscles and joints and helps relieve pain by lifting the skin and allowing improved blood and lymph flow. From 97 articles, ten met the inclusion criteria (article reported data for effect of KT on a musculoskeletal outcome and had a control group) and were retained for meta-analyses. Magnitude-based inferences were used to assess clinical worth of positive outcomes reported in studies. Only two studies investigated sports-related injuries (shoulder impingement), and just one of these involved injured athletes. Studies attending to musculoskeletal outcomes in healthy participants were included on the basis that these outcomes may have implications for the prevention of sporting injuries. The efficacy of KT in pain relief was trivial given there were no clinically important results. There were inconsistent range-of-motion outcome results, with at least small beneficial results seen in two studies, but trivial results in two other studies across numerous joint measurements. There was a likely beneficial effect for proprioception regarding grip force sense error, but no positive outcome for ankle proprioception. Seven outcomes relating to strength were beneficial, although there were numerous trivial findings for quadriceps and hamstrings peak torque, and grip strength measures. KT had some substantial effects on muscle activity, but it was unclear whether these changes were beneficial or harmful. In conclusion, there was little quality evidence to support the use of KT over other types of elastic taping in the management or prevention of sports injuries. KT may have a small beneficial role in improving strength, range of motion in certain injured cohorts and force sense error compared with other tapes, but further studies are needed to confirm these findings. The amount of case study and anecdotal support for KT warrants well designed experimental research, particularly pertaining to sporting injuries, so that practitioners can be confident that KT is beneficial for their athletes.

Man Ther. 2012 Jul 13.

Kinesio Taping(®) does not alter neuromuscular performance of femoral quadriceps or lower limb function in healthy subjects: Randomized, blind, controlled, clinical trial.

Lins CA, Neto FL, Amorim AB, Macedo LD, Brasileiro JS.

Source

The aim of this study was to analyze the immediate effects of applying Kinesio Taping(®) (KT) on the neuromuscular performance of femoral quadriceps, postural balance and lower limb function in healthy subjects. This is a randomized, blind, controlled, clinical trial, where sixty female volunteers (age: 23.3 ± 2.5 years; BMI: 22.2 ± 2.1 kg/m(2)) were randomly assigned to three groups of 20 subjects each: control (10 min at rest); nonelastic adhesive tape (application over the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis and vastus medialis muscles); and KT (KT application over the same muscles). All individuals were assessed for single and triple hops, postural balance (by baropodometry), peak concentric and eccentric torque and electromyographic activity of vastus lateralis, before and after interventions. No significant differences in electromyographic activity of the VL or concentric and eccentric knee peak torque were recorded, between groups and initial and final assessment in any of the three groups. We also observed no significant alteration in single and triple-hop distance and one-footed static balance between the three groups. Application of KT to RF, VL and VM muscles did not significantly change lower limb function, postural balance, knee extensor peak torque or electromyographic activity of VL muscle in healthy women.

These are just some of the many research articles reporting on the effectiveness of kinesio taping. While it is important to ensure that our practice is as evidence based as possible, it should also be remembered that current lack of evidence of effect is not the same as evidence of lack of effect.

It may be that further well designed experimental research is warranted, particularly pertaining to sporting injuries, so that therapists can be confident that kinesio tape is as beneficial the anecdotal reports suggest.

However, it may also be that KT will soon be replaced by the next trendy and colourful fad?!